Egyp–Turkey relations

Egyp an Turkey

Egyptian–Turkis relations are bilateral relations atween Egyp an Turkey. Egyp an Turkey are boond bi strang releegious, cultural an historical ties, but diplomatic ties atween the twa hae remained extremely friendly at times an extremely strained at ithers. For three centuries, Egyp wis pairt o the Ottoman Empire, whose caipital wis Constantinople in modren-day Turkey, despite govrenor o Egyp, Muhammad Ali, waged war against the Ottoman sultan, Mahmud II, in 1831.

Turkey established diplomatic relations wi Egyp in 1925 at the level o Charge d’ Affaires an upgradit its mission in Cairo tae Ambassadorial level in 1948. Baith kintras have embassies an consulate generals in the ither's caipitals. Baith kintras hae signed a free trade agreement in December 2005. Baith kintras are full members o the Union for the Mediterranean. A naitural gas deal atween Egyp an Turkey—the lairgest jynt Egyptian-Turkis project tae date, estimatit tae cost $4 billion—is being implementit.^{[citation needit]} On 16 Apryle 2008, Egyp an Turkey signed a memorandum o unnerstaundin tae impruive an further militar relations an cooperation atween the twa kintras.

Relations houaniver hae been quite tense on mony occasions in history o baith kintras includin the Nasser era in Egyp in the 1950s an 60s. It haes strangly deterioratit in the period follaein the owerthrow o the Egyptian preses Mohamed Morsi on Julie 3, 2013 follaein a 48-hour deadline on Julie 1, marking the end o anti-govrenment protests that took place atween Juin 30 an Julie 3 that year.

On 23 November 2013, the Egyptian govrenment expelled the Turkis ambassador in Cairo efter a months-lang diplomatic creesis.

Diplomatic relations

Relations unner Gamal Abdel Nasser

In the midst of the Cauld War and during the rule o Egyptian Preses Gamal Abdel Nasser, relations atween baith kintras have soured dramatically due tae Turkey's membership in the Breetish-led Baghdad Pact, which Nasser viewed as a major threat tae his efforts tae eliminate Wastren presence in the Arab warld, an acause o the growing influence o Nasser's Pan-Arab ideology, called Nasserism. In addition, Turkey wis the first Muslim majority kintra tae recognize the State o Israel, Egypt's archrival at the time, showing even more its clear alignment tae the Wast. In 1958, Egyp entered a brief union wi Sirie, Turkey's soothren neighbor with whom it shared longtime diplomatic and border disputes, causing severe tensions atween the twa countries wi Turkey responding bi its engagement in a secret "peripheral alliance" wi Israel. The tensions reached their peak in 1957 prior tae the unification wi Syria when Nasser, fearful of a Baghdad Pact toppling of the Sirian government, sent a contingent force tae assist Sirian forces that wis dispatched near the Sirian-Turkis border as a response tae a Turkis threat of incursion when a huge nummer of troops amassed along the border. This near-confrontation atween Egyptian and Turkish troops marked a dark spot in both countries' relations and eventually led to both sides withdrawing, ending the possible escalation of the crisis.

Relations unner post-2011 Egyptian revolution

Turkis Prime Meenister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his first three days official veesit tae Egyp on 12 September 2011, an was accompanied bi sax meenisters an approximately 200 businessmen. This veesit wis considered a diplomatic success an wis met wi much enthusiasm bi Egyptians. CNN reportit some Egyptians saying "We consider him as the Islamic leader in the Middle East", while ithers were appreciative o his role in supporting Gaza. Erdogan was later honored in Tahrir Square by members of the Egyptian Revolution Youth Union, and members of the Turkish embassy were presentit with a coat o airms in acknowledgment of the Prime Meenister’s support of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

A week after he left, Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu proclaimed his vision of a strategic alliance atween Egypt and Turkey which he described as an "Axis of Democracy". However, some voiced concerns that the Egyptian revolution was not fulfilled and that Erdogan was seeking his own country's strategic interests. It was feared that by forming an alliance with the SCAF interim government in Egypt during the country’s transition to democracy, Erdogan may have tipped the balance in favor of those that stand atween the Egyptians and their freedom.

Relations follaein the remuival o Mohamed Morsi frae office

Main airticle: 2013 Egyptian coup d'état

Following the anti-government protests in the middle of 2013 that led to the 2013 overthrow of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi who was strongly backed by Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), signs of strained relations rose atween the newly appointed interim government of Egypt and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government in Turkey, mainly due to Erdoğan's pro-Brotherhood views, culminating with the August 2013 sit-in raids in Rabaa and Nahda by security forces, where sit-ins organized by the Muslim Brotherhood were dispersed, leading to clashes that resulted in 638 deaths, of which 43 were police officers. The incident resulted in both countries recalling their respective ambassadors and was met with several verbal assaults by Erdoğan, who described the event as "anti-democratic" and referred to it as a "massacre," while suggesting that Egypt's leaders should be put under a "fair and transparent trial." This was followed by a suspension of military exercises involving the two countries. Erdoğan also accused the Egyptian military of conspiring with Israel to topple Morsi's government at an expanded meeting of the provincial chairs of his ruling AKP and claimed to possess "proof" for that: "This is what has been implemented in Egypt. Who is behind this? Israel. We have evidence". The claim was rejected by the Egyptian interim government, describing it as "baseless" and intended to "strike at the unity of Egyptians," with presidential spokesperson Ahmed Muslimani saying that "agents of the West should not give lessons in patriotism".

In response to Erdoğan's statements, Egypt's interim president, Adly Mansour announced on his Twitter account on 17 August that Egypt would to sign the international document recognizing the Armenian Genocide: Template:Centered pull quote In addition, dozens of Egyptian articles have been published condemning Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide and urging the country's new leaders to recognize it. There have also been calls to erect a memorial monument commemorating the victims of the genocide in Cairo.

On 23 November 2013, the Egyptian government expelled the Turkish ambassador to the country, Huseyin Avni Botsali, and recalled their ambassador from Ankara indefinitely after several months of tensions with Turkey's ruling AKP-led government. In response, Turkey also barred the Egyptian ambassador, who was out of the country at the time, and declared him a persona non grata. The declaration came a day after Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeated his criticism of Egypt's interim government and his call for the urgent release of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Badr Abdelatty accused Erdoğan of meddling in the country's internal affairs by raising public opinion against the Egyptian government and supporting proscribed organizations that are bent on destabilizing the nation.

Relations unner Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

In July 2014, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry warned that relations would worsen since Erdoğan called Sisi a "tyrant". This comes after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as an "illegitimate tyrant", saying that Egypt could not be relied upon to negotiate a truce with Israel during Operation Protective Edge. "Is Sisi a party (to a ceasefire)? Sisi is a tyrant himself," Erdogan told reporters. "He is not different from the others," he said, adding that it was Egypt's current rulers who were blocking humanitarian aid channels to the Gaza Strip ruled by the Hamas Islamist militant group. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Erdogan's comments were "unacceptable".

Due to Turkey's interference in Egypt's domestic affairs. The Egyptian foreign ministry also canceled joint naval drills with Turkey.

In September 2014, Egypt's foreign minister cancelled a meeting with Turkish president Erdoğan requested by Turkey after Erdoğan made a speech critical of Egypt in the UN General Assembly. An advisor to the Turkish president has denied that the countries' leaders were planning to meet. However, later Egypt's foreign ministry handed out a scanned document of Turkey's meeting proposal to the media and was published by Egypt's Youm7 newspaper. Sisi's administration also decided to cancel the "Ro-Ro" agreement with Turkey, blocking Turkey from transporting Turkish containers to the Gulf via Egyptian ports. An intense campaign started by Egypt and Saudi Arabia against Turkey made it lose its predicted easy victory of membership in the United Nations Security Council.

Following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave an interview with Al Jazeera explaining that “President al-Sisi has nothing to do with democracy, and that he’s killed thousands of his own people.” The remarks were condemned by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid saying that the Turkish president “keeps confusing matter and is losing the ability to make sound judgments” and that this reflects “the difficult circumstances the Turkish president has been through. “He cannot differentiate between an evident revolution where more than 30 million Egyptians demanded the support of the Egyptian military and between military coups as we know them,” the statement explained.

On November 22, 2017, Egypt’s public prosecutor has ordered the detention of 29 people suspected of espionage on behalf of Turkey against Egypt national interest and joining a terrorist organization. They are also accused of money laundering, conducting overseas calls without a license and trading currency without a license. According to the results of an investigation by the General Intelligence Services, the group has been recording phone calls and passing information to Turkish intelligence as part of a plan to bring the Muslim Brotherhood back to power in Egypt.

Following the executions of 9 people convicted of killing Hisham Barakat in February 2019, President Erdogan sharply criticized President al-Sisi, saying he refused to talk to "someone like him".

Proposal tae recognise the Armenie Genocide

Due to the ongoing deterioration of relations atween Egypt and Turkey, the Government of Egypt led by el-Sisi, has been receiving proposals to recognize the Armenian Genocide, a sensitive subject that Turkey has denounced mair nor once. Filmmaker Mohamed Hanafi had produced a movie, "Who Killed the Armenians?", in response to the ongoing tensions atween Turkey and Egypt, as an act of Egyptian solidarity to Armenia.

In February 2019, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced it had implicitly recognized the Armenian Genocide, further deteriorating the relationship atween Turkey and Egypt.

Proposal tae grant asylum tae Fethullah Gülen

MP Emad Mahrous called on the Egyptian government to grant asylum to Gülen. In the request, sent to Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel-Aal, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on 24 July 2016, Mahrous notes that "[Turkey] was a moderate Muslim country that has become an Islamist dictatorship at the hands of [Turkish president] Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his affiliated Muslim Brotherhood political party", arguing that it was "highly distasteful" that Erdoğan has requested Gülen's extradition from the United States while at the same time "... giving shelter to hundreds of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organisation and members of other bloody militant Islamist groups which attack Egypt by day and night".

Mahrous argues that not only has Erdoğan accused Gülen of plotting the failed coup, Erdoğan has also used this allegation as an excuse to engage in mass purges against public institutions allegedly loyal to Gülen. "(Simultaneously), Erdogan has decided to turn Turkey-Egypt relations into a media battleground, with Turkish intelligence providing funds for several Muslim Brotherhood TV channels that target Egypt". Mahrous stated that his advice to Gülen is to not wait until his extradition, but instead leave the US and obtain permanent asylum in Egypt. Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat granted asylum to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after arriving the Egypt from the US, regardless of all the threats that were issued by Iran's ayatollahs during the Iranian Revolution.

Relations in early 2020

Early in 2020, the Egyptian military practices military drills in the Middle East as a show of force to Turkey according to Xinhuanet News. "It's (the military exercises) a message to the Turkish side to realize the capabilities of Egyptian army on battle ground," said Tariq Fahmy, a professor of international relations at Cairo University. In addition, The Egyptian naval forces conducted a muckle-scale amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean Sea amid escalating tensions in the region after Turkey's parliament agreed to send military troops to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-recognized government in Tripoli. Egypt's naval forces conducted activities in the Mediterranean Sea aimed at imposing maritime control on the country's economic zone and securing vital targets in deep water, according to a statement by the armed forces. The Egyptian naval forces conducted a muckle-scale amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean Sea amid escalating tensions in the region after Turkey's parliament agreed to send military troops to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-recognized government in Tripoli.

Diplomacy

Republic o Egypt

• Ankara (Embassy)
• Istanbul (Consulate-General)

Republic o Turkey

• Cairo (Embassy)
• Alexandria (Consulate-General)

Bibliography

• J. Zürcher, Erik (2004), Turkey: A Modern History, Revised Edition, London: I.B. Tauris, ISBN 9781850433996
• Rubin, Barry; Kirisci, Kemal (2001), Turkey in World Politics: An Emerging Multiregional Power, Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, ISBN 978-1-55587-954-9
• Dawisha, Adeed (2009), Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair, Princeton: Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0-691-10273-3

References

Freemit airtins

• [1] Archived 2020-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
• Egyptian embassy in Ankara
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Egypt
• Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Turkey Archived 2008-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
• New Era in the Egyptian – Turkish Relations Archived 2011-11-28 at the Wayback Machine